Talking points from the final round of group games in the Mayo club championship
Belmullet’s Ryan O’Donoghue in action against Knockmore’s Declan Melvin and David McHale during the Connacht Gold Mayo SFC Rd 3 at St. Tiernan’s Park, Crossmolina, last Sunday. Picture: David Farrell Photography
If ever there was a case of the haves and the have nots, then surely it came in Saturday’s intermediate championship matches that were taking place just a stone’s throw apart, in Ballina and Knockmore.
Moy Davitts entered their game against Lahardane MacHales at James Stephens Park with the luxury of knowing that their place in the quarter-finals was already assured, with the only thing to be determined being whether they topped Group 1 or not.
You could be forgiven for thinking they weren’t too bothered whether they did or not, either that or that they just had supreme belief in the strength of their squad, because they made no fewer than 11 changes from the team that had started against Crossmolina Deel Rovers in Round 2 – and even one of those four players to hold their place had to be replaced through injury.
Compare that to the one change to the Kiltane team that had started their Round 2 victory over Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin, for their game against Ballinrobe on Saturday – and even that was enforced due to an injury to Adam Carabine. The Erris side managing to earn a draw against Ballinrobe was one of the surprise results of the weekend; the Robesiders entered that match as second favourites to win the intermediate championship outright yet ended the day held by a Kiltane team who bookmakers had rated Ballinrobe as 1/12 favourites to beat.
Ballinrobe named 35 players in their squad compared to Kiltane’s 24, while up the road in Ballina, Moy Davitts were carrying a panel of 38 players – 14 more than Kiltane.
But the old cliché stands the test of time: you can only pick 15.
For all the talk ahead of the final round about whether Castlebar Mitchels and Knockmore could find themselves in an unlikely relegation playoff, the senior championship quarter-finalists have ended up with a familiar ring to it.
Both sides had a scare or two along the way but goals by Paddy Heneghan ensured Mitchels of victory and some needed respite for manager Barry Moran, who certainly would have felt the heat had the county town found themselves in a relegation playoff.
Injuries have hit Knockmore hard in the championships but it was young guns like Caolan Hopkins and Charlie Bourke who stood up against Belmullet while old reliables like Aiden Orme and Pearse Ruttledge guided them over the line The home quarter-finalists are Breaffy, Ballina Stephenites, Garrymore and Ballaghaderreen while Castlebar Mitchels, Knockmore, Ballintubber and Westport will all be on the road.
As much talk as there has been about the likes of Claremorris, Aghamore, Charlestown or Ballyhaunis making a breakthrough this year, the road out of the group stage is a very difficult one.
From one extreme to the other, Ballintubber players, management and supporters will have gone from devastation at being knocked out of the championship despite the win in Kilmeena to elation after news filtered through to Islandeady as the neighbours Breaffy, of all teams, gave Ballintubber an early Christmas present with three late points to send Aghamore out.
A tweet by Aghamore GAA shortly after the game confirmed that after both teams finished on three points with a win and a draw, and -6 scoring difference, Aghamore were eliminated as Ballintubber had scored 37 points to Aghamore’s 31. Senior championship is a cruel mistress.
Across senior, intermediate and junior, ten of the 24 quarter-finalists are North Mayo clubs. Senior are Ballina Stephenites and Knockmore, intermediate is Crossmolina, Kiltane and Ardnaree and junior is Cill Chomáin, Bonniconlon, Killala, Ardagh and Northern Gaels.
Of those ten, only Knockmore and Ardnaree were asked serious questions about their spot in the knockouts. Moclair Cup has resided north in three of the last four seasons and could very well do so again. Crossmolina will fancy their chances of winning a Sweeney Cup while the junior decider should see at least one team from the north reach that stage.
For the first time in years, Mayo’s senior and intermediate football championship finals are to be played on separate weekends this season.
The Moclair Cup (senior) final has been pencilled in for the weekend of October 19/20 while both the Sweeney (intermediate) and McDonnell (junior) cup finals will be contested the following Bank Holiday weekend, October 26/26.
Whether the Mayo SFC final is played under floodlights on Saturday or on Sunday afternoon will be determined closer to the time. While Mayo GAA is actively livestreaming its own matches, it’s understood Croke Park are keen for Mayo, and for all counties, to engage with TG4 should the Irish language broadcaster express an interest in televising their county finals.
The quarter-finals of the Mayo senior, intermediate and junior football championships are to be played the weekend after next, September 28/29, and the semi-finals just one week later, October 5/6.
That will leave a two-week lead in to the Mayo SFC final and three weeks for those teams involved in the intermediate and junior deciders.
